“Conspiracy theory’s got to be simple. Sense doesn’t come into it. People are more scared of how complicated shit actually is than they ever are about whatever’s supposed to be behind the conspiracy.”-The Peripheral, William Gibson 2014

Too bad it isn't in 1/72 scale. I lived in the Chicago area back in the day, and the city was surrounded by a belt of Hercules batteries until the 60s. If you know what you are looking for, you can see you can spot some of the few remaining buildings.

Too bad it isn't in 1/72 scale. I lived in the Chicago area back in the day, and the city was surrounded by a belt of Hercules batteries until the 60s. If you know what you are looking for, you can see you can spot some of the few remaining buildings.

Funny how you can drive by a building or property in the city or town everyday and not know it is a military base. One time when I was still in the UK, I was sent to do a job in a Quarter Master's building, I was given an address and was surprised to see it was something I pass almost everyday. All you see from the road was a very tall, continuous, red brick wall. There was no real indication that it was a military base because at the entrance you went in a gate and had to turn sharply to the right, the brick wall having a joggle right there so you couldn't see inside. Anyway, once checked in I was instructed to follow a perimeter road until I found the Quarter Master's Store and I wasn't escorted either. But the surprise was what the facility was -- a massive fuel dump --- I've never, ever seen so many jerry cans in one place in my life and around the perimeter road were helicopter landing pads, which had those large barrel shaped rubber bladder type fuel tanks that the helicopters would carry. Another amazing thing was, I was left to myself the whole week I was there --

Well it was an Army base, I think the jerry cans were full of gasoline --- they were all stacked on the large shipping pallets you see getting loaded into C-130's and such, and then each stacked pallet was stacked on top of each other until they were about four high (IIRC but it could have been three high) And there were thousands of them --

Well it was an Army base, I think the jerry cans were full of gasoline --- they were all stacked on the large shipping pallets you see getting loaded into C-130's and such, and then each stacked pallet was stacked on top of each other until they were about four high (IIRC but it could have been three high) And there were thousands of them --

I doubt they were full. There are special storage regulations for full Jerry Cans and bladders, in case of "cooking off". Downunder, we use natural gullies as much as possible as bunds to prevent the spread of fire if one dump catches alight.

Well it was an Army base, I think the jerry cans were full of gasoline --- they were all stacked on the large shipping pallets you see getting loaded into C-130's and such, and then each stacked pallet was stacked on top of each other until they were about four high (IIRC but it could have been three high) And there were thousands of them --

I doubt they were full. There are special storage regulations for full Jerry Cans and bladders, in case of "cooking off". Downunder, we use natural gullies as much as possible as bunds to prevent the spread of fire if one dump catches alight.

Quite possible Brian, just remembered something else, there were large pipelines running around the helipads too, so the fuel must have been stored somewhere. Also I had heard that it was for emergencies, like when we got gasoline rationed back in the 70's. (we didn't get to use the ration cards but everyone who had a current logbook got them, I had four logbooks )

Bulk fuel storage in small containers makes no practical sense considering the shelf-life on untreated fuel would require constant change out of the container contents to maintain fuel that is "fit for consumption/combustion." Also the stacking of cans as described would indicate that these containers were empty. Also stacking containers of fuel in small containers has limitations on how high the stack can safely be stored. The further the fall, the greater the chances of breaking a can on the weld seams if full of fuel.

Logged

"Every day we hear about new studies 'revealing' what should have been obvious to sentient beings for generations; 'Research shows wolverines don't like to be teased" -- Jonah Goldberg